Guiding device for sliding doors

Abstract

A guiding device for sliding doors is disclosed and includes a guide bar and door supporting elements that travel along the guide bar. The guide bar and each door supporting element form a recirculating ball bearing sliding pair. The guide bar and the door supporting element have cylindrical mating surfaces The sliding pair comprises ball sleeve bearings placed inside a cylindrical tube which is integral with the respective door supporting elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for guiding and supporting a sliding door on a fixed structure, said device comprising: an elongated substantially U-shaped housing securable to the fixed structure;   a guide bar support disposed within said U-shaped housing;   an elongated cylindrical guide bar disposed in said U-shaped housing and connected to said guide bar support so as to be supported thereby along its length;   a door supporting element including a cylindrical tube and a sliding door fastening arm projecting outwardly and laterally of said U-shaped housing, said cylindrical tube having a longitudinal opening which straddles said guide bar support, wherein said cylindrical tube is located in said U-shaped housing and said elongated cylindrical guide bar is received in said cylindrical tube; and   a plurality of recirculating ball bearings retained in said cylindrical tube in rolling relationship with an outer peripheral surface of said elongated cylindrical guide bar.   
     
     
       2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said U-shaped housing has an upwardly extending projection which is received in a channel formed in a lower portion of said guide bar support. 
     
     
       3. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pair of inwardly directed lips formed on edges of said cylindrical tube defining said longitudinal opening, respectively, for retaining said plurality of recirculating ball bearings in said cylindrical tubes. 
     
     
       4. A device for guiding and supporting a sliding door on a fixed structure, said device comprising: an elongated substantially U-shaped housing securable to the fixed structure;   a guide bar support secured to an interior bottom portion of said U-shaped housing;   an elongated cylindrical guide bar disposed in said U-shaped housing and connected to said guide bar support so as to be supported thereby along its entire length;   a door supporting element including a cylindrical tube and a sliding door fastening arm projecting outwardly and laterally of said U-shaped housing, said cylindrical tube having a longitudinal opening which straddles said guide bar support, wherein said cylindrical tube is located in said U-shaped housing and said elongated cylindrical guide bar is received in said cylindrical tube; and   an open sleeve rolling bearing including a plurality of recirculating ball bearings, said open sleeve rolling bearing being retained in said cylindrical tube in rolling contact relationship with an outer peripheral surface of said elongated cylindrical guide bar.   
     
     
       5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said U-shaped housing has an upwardly extending projection which is received in a channel formed in a lower portion of said guide bar support. 
     
     
       6. The device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a pair of inwardly directed lips formed on edges defining said longitudinal opening formed in said cylindrical tube, respectively, for retaining said open sleeve rolling bearing in said cylindrical tube. 
     
     
       7. A guiding device for a sliding door arranged to slide between a pair of fixed structures and to close an opening formed therebetween, said guiding device comprising: an elongated substantially U-shaped housing formed of a first portion and a second portion, each of said first and second portions being secured to the pair of fixed structures, respectively;   a guide bar support securable to said first portion;   a cylindrical guide bar fixedly supported on said guide bar support;   a door supporting element adapted to travel along said cylindrical guide bar, said door supporting element having a downwardly projecting fastening arm connectable to the sliding door and a cylindrical tube having a longitudinal opening straddling said guide bar support such that said guide bar is received in said cylindrical tube;   a plurality of recirculating ball bearings disposed between an inner peripheral surface of said cylindrical tube and an outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical guide bar such that said cylindrical guide bar is movable relative to said cylindrical guide bar,   wherein said guide bar, said guide bar support, and said sliding door supporting element are enclosed within said U-shaped housing.   
     
     
       8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said plurality of recirculating ball bearings are received in an open sleeve bearing which is retained in said cylindrical tube.